FST and MUST join forces to Stop Exploiting Loyalty
FULHAM SUPPORTERS’ TRUST AND MUST JOIN FORCES TO STOP EXPLOITING LOYALTY
The Fulham Supporters’ Trust and the Manchester United Supporters Trust will join forces ahead of Sunday’s Premier League fixture at Craven Cottage in a photo call promoting the Football Supporters Association’s Stop Exploiting Loyalty campaign.
The FSA’s campaign addresses how matchgoing fans continue to be treated as an afterthought by the football authorities. This season will see more Premier League fixtures switched for live broadcast than ever before, like Sunday’s fixture which was switched to a 4.30pm kick off at the behest of the television rights holder. The FSA have called for the Premier League to adopt a 12-week notice period for fixture rearrangements and provide “football special” trains.
Simon Duke, the chair of the Fulham Supporters’ Trust said: “Fulham fans have supported the FSA’s Stop Exploiting Loyalty Campaign since its inception and we are proud to continue to stand up for the rights of matchgoing fans, especially as they are likely to be inconvenienced by the broadcasters as supporters will be on Sunday. It is time for the fans voices to be heard.”
Duncan Drasdo, the chief executive of the Manchester United Supporters Trust, added:
“Across English football fans face the same threats from Club’s seeking to exploit their loyalty as the game becomes more and more commercialised and driven by money. We are proud to stand alongside our friends at Fulham to say enough is enough. Stop Exploiting Loyalty and start recognising that the fans are an intrinsic part of the Premier League.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The Fulham Supporters’ Trust are the independent and democratic supporters’ organisation formed from the ‘Back to the Cottage’ campaign in 2003.
2. The Football Supporters Association’s Stop Exploiting Loyalty campaign has been operational since last season and supporters’ organisations reaffirmed their support during this summer’s Annual General Meeting in Manchester.
3. The Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (MUST) and Fulham Supporters’ Trust have a history of collaborative campaigning, most recently at Craven Cottage in November 2023 and at Old Trafford before last season’s FA Cup fifth round tie in February.
4. Fans will gather outside the Bishop’s Park tea house at 3.15pm to call for the voices of loyal fans to be recognised.
5. For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact the Fulham Supporters’ Trust’s Dan Crawford on daniel.s.crawford@hotmail.com or 07837399617.
